As-salaamu Alaikum –

Welcome Ramadan,

As the month of Ramadan arrives, I extend my warmest greetings and sincerest congratulations to you and your families.

I remind myself and all of you, my beloved brothers, and sisters, of the profound wisdom behind our fast, as Allah instructs us, so “…that you may have taqwa (God-consciousness).” This month offers us a unique opportunity to deepen our connection with Allah, to cultivate self-discipline, and to enhance our gratitude and awareness of the needs of those around us.

This month is also the month of the Quran. Let us enjoy its recitation, understand its meaning, reflect on its verses, and practice it in our lives.

This month is also a time when our prayers are accepted more and more. So, let’s turn our prayers especially towards those facing hardship and conflict in the world, especially our brothers and sisters in Gaza. May Allah bring them relief, peace, and an end to genocide, oppression, and apartheid.

This month let’s challenge ourselves to extend our hospitality and generosity in new ways. I encourage you to invite someone from our community to your home for iftar whom you have not invited before. Remember, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will get a reward like theirs, without the fasting person losing any reward.” Especially remember to invite our convert brothers and sisters who were not born Muslim and may not have any Muslim family to break fast with.

May Allah accept our fasts, our prayers, and our acts of charity. May He ease the hardships of those in need and bless our efforts with success. May this Ramadan enlighten our souls and allow the love of Allah to reach our hearts and the hearts of our children.

Wishing you a Ramadan filled with barakah. May you be protected and enveloped in the mercy of the Almighty.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Jazakumullahu Khairan

Sincerely,
Adam Jamal
Imam Masjid al-Rahmah (MAPS)

Iftar (dinner) will be offered throughout the month of Ramadan at MAPS. Iftars on Fridays and Saturdays will be open for families to socialize and reconnect with fellow community members.

Suhoor (early breakfast) will be arranged for people praying Qiyam-ul-Lail and doing I’tekaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

If you’re interested in sponsoring Iftar at MAPS, please sign up and make your donation at https://app.aplos.com/aws/give/maps/ramadan. QR Code for Iftar signup will also be posted throughout the masjid.
If you plan on sponsoring Iftar for a day and want to make special arrangements, please contact manager@mapsredmond.org.

* Fundraising will be done during Taraweeh on these dates. Please see the fundraising efforts section for more details.

‡‡ Du’a Khatm al-Quran will be made on Sunday, April 7th.

Our Qiyam-ul-Lail program will start on 21st night of Ramadan and run for the last 10 nights. Since we have longer nights, we are organizing two Qiyam-ul-Lail sessions this year. Each Qiyam-ul-Lail session will be 6 Rak’at + Witr.

‡‡ Du’a Khatm al-Quran will be repeated during Qiyam 1 on Sunday, April 07.

Khatirah (spiritual reminders) are presented in English 15 minutes before the start of Isha prayers. You’re encouraged to come early and participate to get an overview of the chapter being recited every night.

We will continue to have community Iftars every night.

Suhoor (early breakfast) will be arranged for people praying Qiyam-ul-Lail and doing I’tekaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Click here to sponsor Iftar or Suhoor: http://bit.ly/ramadanatmaps

Don’t forget to fulfill your Zakat obligations. Zakat-ul-Fitr is $15 per person. Fidyah will also be $15 per person.

Please send your Zakat, Zakat-ul-Fitr and Fidyah donations to MAPS by Friday, April 5th so that we can disburse to needy local families in time for Eid, Insha’Allah.

How to Pay:

•  Online at mapsredmond.org/donation
•  Kiosks/collection boxes at MAPS
•  Zelle donations@mapsredmond.org and include Zakat-ul-Fitr in the note.

Organizations serving the community rely on our generous donations during Ramadan to raise funds for their operations throughout the year. These fundraising also provide a channel for the community to fulfill their Zakat/Sadaqa obligations and benefit from increased rewards during the blessed month.

MAPS Redmond will have two combined fundraising events for external organizations. Our hope is that diversity within these two groups will allow all MAPS members to find the cause that is dearest to them and contribute to it during the fundraising. Here are the organizations:

Group 1

Date: Friday, March 15, 2024
Time: During Taraweeh
Speaker: Br. Munir Iqtish

1. Islamic Relief USA – To help the needy across the different countries we have projects in. Under this link you can find the various sectors we work in https://irusa.org/our-work/what-we-do/. We have projects in the USA, Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
2. Eritrean Muslim Association of Northwest – To purchase community center.  Activities: Social Service- Hold gathering events throughout the year for community get together and disseminate religious lectures and observe religious holidays. Teaching kids Islamic Studies, Quran & After school programs -Help new immigrants adapt and integrate in the society – Assist community members with funeral service.
3. Human Development Fund – Global Scholarship Fund – At the Human Development Fund, we firmly believe in the transformative potential of education. Through the Global Scholarship Program, generously supported by Zakat contributions, we have the honor of sponsoring 2,000 students across Jordan, Kenya, and the United States. Notably, 650 of these scholars are young women, with 600 in Kenya and 50 being Palestinian refugees in Jordan. Funds raised will be directly allocated towards supporting these students. https://hdfund.org/.
4. Muhsen – Towards programming and services for the MAPS community Muslims with disabilities. https://muhsen.org/.

Group 2

Date: Friday, Mar 22, 2024
Time: During Taraweeh
Speaker: Sh. Abdirahman Kariye

2. Helping Hands for Relief & Development – HHRD is committed to serving humanity by integrating resources for people in need. We strive to provide immediate responses in disasters, and effective Programs in places of suffering, for the pleasure of Allah (SWT). HHRD was established to fulfill our responsibility towards humanity regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, class, location, religion, color, cultural diversity, and social background, with a special focus in countries where most of the population lives below the poverty line. https://www1.hhrd.org/.
3. CAIR-WA – CAIR-WA is a community-funded organization that receives all our donations locally. We use these funds to provide pro-bono legal civil rights and immigration services for those who need it most.  We also represent the community in the media and connect our community with elected officials. https://www.cairwa.org/.
4. Palestinian American Medical Association – Buying medical supplies, establishing clinics and send medical missions to Palestine. https://palestinian-ama.org/.
5. Islamic House Seattle – Recently, our mosque has experienced increased attendance during Friday Jumaah prayers, and thus we have started renovation projects to expand the prayer areas and accommodate the growing community, of both brothers and sisters. Our renovation projects involve extending prayer areas, adding study rooms and social lounges, and creating a new community hub to host social gatherings such as Ramadan Iftar and MSA programs. Additionally, with the expansion of space, we aspire to launch a weekend Islamic educational program that caters to individuals of various age groups, including children, teenagers, and college students.

Fundraising for Gaza

KinderUSA (https://www.kinderusa.org/) will be hosting a table every Saturday and Sunday during Iftar and Taraweeh for collecting funds for Gaza. Please donate generously to help our brother and sisters in Gaza.

MAPS Redmond Fundraisers

1. Friday, March 15, 2024, after Friday Prayers. Speaker: Munir Iqtish
2. Friday, April 5, 2024, during Taraweeh (27^th Night of Ramadan). Speaker: Abdirahman Kariye

• PAMA: https://palestinian-ama.networkforgood.com/projects/220912-seattle-fundraising-for-the-people-of-gaza-ramadan-2024
• KinderUSA: https://kinderusa.networkforgood.com/projects/218963-general-giving
  • KinderUSA will be hosting a table every Saturday and Sunday during Iftar and Taraweeh for collecting funds for Gaza. Please donate generously to help our brother and sisters in Gaza.

• Childcare will be available every weekend, starting March 15th.
• During the last 10 nights, it will be available every night.

In this blessed month of Ramadan, it is critical that we provide every individual an opportunity to fulfill their spiritual needs while making sure the entire MAPS facility is accessible, safe, and secure for everyone. It is therefore critical to be vigilant, follow all posted instructions and follow any guidance being provided by our volunteers, security, and parking personnel. Your understanding and cooperation will allow more individuals to safely attend the daily rituals and will Insha’Allah be an additional source of blessings for you.

PARKING

1. Taraweeh Parking
   1. MAPS: all days
   2. Church parking available on all days, except Friday, after 8:00pm
   3. Redmond Community Center parking available on Fridays after 8:00 pm
   4. Please respect neighbor’s property rights. Don’t leave trash on the lots. Don’t park on these lots before 8:00pm.
   5. Marymoor East Lot
   6. Street parking
2. Iftar Parking:
   1. MAPS
   2. Marymoor Park East Lot
   3. Street Parking

SAFETY

• If you see something suspicious or threatening, please alert the security personnel at the facility.
• “No Parking” signs have been installed in areas that must always remain clear to provide adequate access to individuals and emergency vehicles. At times we will place traffic cones to indicate an area that is blocked off for vehicle traffic and parking. Vehicles parked at such areas, marked with “No Parking” signs, or blocked off with traffic cones, are subject to be towed at vehicle owner’s expense.
• Disabled Parking Spots are for vehicles that have a state-issued Disabled Parking Permit visibly displayed. Vehicles parked in these spots without the appropriate permit are subject to being towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.
• Some of our neighboring businesses have their own parking needs and restrictions. You must always follow any parking restrictions or guidelines posted in their parking lots. There is strictly no MAPS parking in both small and large lots of the neighboring church on Fridays.
• After parking your vehicle, please look around to make sure your vehicle is taking only one parking spot, is not blocking another vehicle, and is not blocking an exit or an entrance. Vehicles that occupy multiple parking spots, blocking other vehicles or critical pathways are subject to being towed at vehicle owner’s expense.
• There is heavy foot traffic around the facility throughout the day. Please slow down and be extra vigilant of
• Please send any comments or ideas to manager@mapsredmond.org. Together we can Insha’Allah make MAPS an inclusive, safe, and secure center for everyone.

• Please stay home if you are sick. Online streaming options are available on MAPS Facebook and YouTube pages.
• MAPS is your Masjid, please help us keep it clean.
• Food and drinks are only allowed in designated areas. Food and drinks are not allowed on carpets.
• Please clean up after yourself during Iftar and Suhoor.
• 0–7-year-olds must be in Mothers and Fathers rooms accompanied by their parents.
• 8–13-year-olds must always be accompanied by a parent in the prayer area.
• Families should leave immediately if kids are fussy or distract others with movement and noise.
• Always keep phones silent mode.
• Leave your footwear in designated areas only.
• Please bring a reusable water bottle.
• Help us keep MAPS green. Dispose of items in Trash/Recycle/Compost bins as appropriate.
• Please respect the No-Parking signs. Vehicles parked inappropriately will be towed at the owner’s expense.
• Please respect our neighbors’ property rights.
• Always follow volunteer instructions.

MAPS is committed to minimizing food wastage during Ramadan and is partnering with a local, food rescue non-profit to deliver excess food to homeless shelters in King County. 

We need your help to sign up for food delivery every night from 8:00pm -9:30pm starting from March 11 till April 9th. Please sign-up by downloading the app “EatHappyNow” from App store. Details are provided in the app.

Eid prayers are the most attended events at MAPS. There will be kids’ activities and celebrations after the prayers. We hope that you, your family, and friends can all join us this year. MAPS will hold four (4) Eid Prayers on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.